The Mariners thought that a return to 3B (he played 2B last year) might help him spark his bat. That experiment hasn’t worked as Figgins has been pathetic with the bat so far this year. He has played in 45 games for the Mariners so far this year and he is 37 for 183 (.202 avg, .515 OPS) with 17 runs scored, 1 homer, 12 RBIs and 7 stolen bases. Figgins has been especially awful this May. He has played in 19 games for the Mariners so far in May and he is 15 for 80 (.188 avg, .442 OPS) with 5 runs scored, 2 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. The Mariners should definately consider dropping Figgins in the lineup, but he has to play because of all of the $ he is making this year.

Righty closer Kazuhiro Sasaki hit the ground running when he came to the Mariners in 2000 as a 32-year old rookie. He went on to win the Rookie of the Year Award in the majors in 2000. Sasaki pitched in 63 games (0 starts) for the Mariners in 2000 and he was 2-5 with 37 saves, a 3.16 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP. He only gave up 42 hits while whiffing 78 batters in 62 2/3 innings for the Mariners in 2000, which shows just how nasty he really was. Sasaki pitched in 228 games (0 starts) in his four years with the Mariners and he was 7-16 with 129 saves, a 3.14 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP. He is still the Mariners’ all-time leader in saves with 129.

25-year old righty starting pitcher Felix Hernandez got off to a so-so start for him in April. But, he has been outstanding so far in May. Hernandez has started 5 games so far this May and he is 2-2 with a 2.68 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP. He has only given up 27 hits while walking 9 batters in 37 innings this month while whiffing 42 batters! That shows what kind of a zone the defending Cy Young Award winner is in right now. Hernandez has now started 11 games for the Mariners so far this year and he is 5-4 with a 3.01 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP. I look for him to continue to roll for the Mariners.

24-year old lefty swinging outfielder Michael Saunders is testing the patience of manager Eric Wedge so far this month. Saunders has played in 12 games so far this May for the Mariners and he is 3 for 43 (.070 avg, .251 OPS) with 3 runs scored, 1 homer and 1 RBI. He has walked 2 times while whiffing 15 times already in May. Saunders has now played in 33 games for the Mariners so far this year and he is 19 for 113 (.168 avg, .486 OPS) with 13 runs scored, 2 homers, 7 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. He has also whiffed 33 times already this year as he has looked helpless with a bat in his hands quite often this year. I think the Mariners should send Saunders to the minors soon before they ruin his career.

The Mariners have claimed 29-year old righty reliever Jeff Gray off waivers from the White Sox. Gray has pitched in 6 games (0 starts) earlier this year with the White Sox and he is 0-0 with a 2.70 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. He has now pitched in 42 games (0 starts) in his first four years in the majors and he is 1-1 with a 4.36 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP. This was a good move for the Mariners as Gray should be able to help them right away.